Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative and Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

OMB No. 1615-0028; Expires 09/30/09

Instructions for I-600A, Application for
Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if any, at the top of each sheet of
paper and indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
This form is used by a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt a
foreign-born orphan but does not have a specific child in
mind. "Advance Processing" enables U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjudicate the application
that relates to the qualifications of the applicant(s) as a
prospective adoptive parent(s).
Additionally, this form may be used in cases where the child is
known and the prospective adoptive parent(s) is traveling to
the country where the child is located. However, it is
important that prospective adoptive parent(s) be aware that the
child must remain in the foreign country where the child is
located until the processing is completed.
NOTE: Form I-600A is not a petition to classify an orphan as
an immediate relative. Form I-600, Petition to Classify
Orphan as an Immediate Relative, is used for that purpose.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
1. Eligibility for advance processing application (Form
I-600A)
An application for advance processing may be filed by a
married U.S. citizen and spouse. The spouse of the
applicant does not need to be a U.S. citizen; however, he
or she must be in a lawful immigration status. An
application for advance processing may also be filed by an
unmarried U.S citizen who is at least 24 years of age
provided that he or she will be at least 25 years of age at
the time of adoption and the filing of an orphan petition on
behalf of a child.
2. Eligibility for orphan petition (Form I-600)
In addition to the requirements concerning the citizenship
and age of the applicant described in the above paragraph
noted by Number 1 when a child is located and identified,
the following eligibility requirements will apply:

disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or
separation or loss from both parents.
An orphan is also a child who has only one parent who
is not capable of taking care of the orphan and who
has, in writing, irrevocably released the orphan for
emigration and adoption.
Form I-600 may not be filed on behalf of a child who is
present in the United States unless that child is in
parole status and has not been adopted in the United
States.
The petition must be filed before the child reaches 16
years of age.
B. Adoption abroad
If the orphan was adopted abroad, it must be
established that both the married applicant and spouse
or the unmarried applicant personally saw and
observed the child prior to or during the adoption
proceedings. The adoption decree must show that a
married prospective adoptive parent and spouse
adopted the child jointly or that an unmarried
prospective parent was at least 25 years of age at the
time of the adoption and filing of Form I-600.
C. Proxy adoption abroad
If both the applicant and spouse or the unmarried
applicant did not personally see and observe the child
prior to or during the adoption proceedings abroad, the
applicant (and spouse, if married) must submit a
statement indicating the applicant's (and, if married, the
spouse's) willingness and intent to readopt the child in
the United States. If requested, the applicant must
submit a statement by an official of the State in which
the child will reside that readoption is permissible in
that State. In addition, evidence must be submitted to
show compliance with the preadoption requirements, if
any, of that State.
D. Preadoption requirements

A. Child
Under U.S. immigration law, an orphan is an alien
child who has no parents because of the death or

If the orphan has not been adopted abroad, the
applicant and spouse or the unmarried applicant must
establish that the child will be adopted in the United
Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y

States by the prospective applicant and spouse jointly
or by the unmarried prospective applicant, and that the
preadoption requirements, if any, of the State of the
orphan's proposed residence have been met.

General Instructions
Step 1. Fill Out Form I-600A
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "None."

Step 2. General Requirements
Initial Evidence
1. Proof of U. S. citizenship of the prospective adoptive
parent(s)
A. If a U.S. citizen by birth in the United States, submit a
copy of the birth certificate issued by the civil registrar,
vital statistics office, or other civil authority. If a birth
certificate is not available, submit a statement from the
appropriate civil authority certifying that a birth
certificate is not available. In such a situation,
secondary evidence must be submitted, including:
1. Church records bearing the seal of the church
showing the baptism, dedication, or comparable rite
occurred within two months after birth and showing
the date and place of the prospective adoptive
parent's birth, date of the religious ceremony, and
the names of the parents;
2. School Records issued by the authority (preferably
the first school attended) showing the date of
admission to the school, prospective adoptive
parent's date of birth, or age at the time, the place of
birth, and the names of the parents;
3. Census records (State or Federal) showing the
name, place of birth, date of birth, or age of the
prospective adoptive parent listed;
4. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by two persons who
were living at the time and who have personal
knowledge of the date and place of birth in the

United States of the prospective adoptive parent.
Each affidavit should contain the following
information regarding the person making the
affidavit: his or her full name, address, date, place of
birth, and relationship to the prospective adoptive
parent, if any, and full information concerning the
event and complete details of how the affiant
acquired knowledge of the birth; or
5. An unexpired U.S. passport initially issued for ten
years.
B. If the prospective adoptive parent was born outside the
United States, submit a copy of one of the following:
1. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of
Citizenship issued by USCIS;
2. Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen
of the United States, issued by a U.S. Embassy;
3. An unexpired U.S. passport initially issued for ten
years; or
4. An original statement from a U.S. consular officer
verifying the applicant's U.S. citizenship with a
valid passport.
NOTE: Proof of the lawful immigration status of the
applicant's spouse, if applicable, must be submitted. If
the spouse is not a U.S. citizen, proof of lawful
immigration status, such as Form I-551, Permanent
Resident Card; Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record;
or a copy of the biographic pages of the spouse's
passport and the nonimmigrant visa pages showing an
admission stamp may be submitted.
2. Proof of Marriage of Applicant and Spouse
The married applicant must submit a copy of the certificate
of marriage and proof of termination of all prior marriages
of himself or herself and spouse. In the case of an
unmarried applicant who was previously married, submit
proof of termination of all prior marriages.
NOTE: If any change occurs in the applicant's marital
status while the application is pending, immediately notify
the USCIS office where the application was filed.
3. Home Study
You must submit a home study prepared according to the
requirements specified in 8 CFR 204.3(e) by a person who
is authorized under 8 CFR 204.3(b) to prepare the home
study. If you do not submit the home study with your
Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 2

Form I-600A, it must be submitted not more than one year
after you file Form I-600A. The home study must have
been completed or updated not more than six months
before the date it is submitted to USCIS.

B. Assessment of the finances of the prospective
adoptive parents;

In order to prepare a home study, the person must be
licensed or otherwise authorized under the law of the State
of the child's proposed residence to prepare home studies
for adoptions. The home study preparer may be a public
agency with authority under State law for adoption
matters, or a public or private adoption agency licensed in
the State of the child's proposed residence. The home
study preparer may also be an individual, if the person is,
as an individual, licensed or otherwise authorized to
prepare home studies for adoption under the law of the
State of the child's proposed residence.

D. Previous rejection for adoption or prior unfavorable
home study;

If you live abroad and will adopt the child abroad, the
home study may be prepared by an agency or individual
who is licensed or authorized to prepare home studies
under the law of the country in which you reside, or under
the law of any State in the United States. In addition to
having a home study preparer that meets this requirement,
the home study must, before it is submitted to USCIS, be
reviewed and favorably recommended by a public
adoption agency in any State in the United States or by a
private agency licensed or otherwise authorized in any
State to place children for adoption.
NOTE: USCIS does not enforce foreign licensing laws.
So if your home study is prepared abroad by a home study
preparer licensed in the United States and is reviewed and
favorably recommended by a public or private adoption
agency licensed in the United States, you may submit it to
USCIS, and USCIS will accept it. The country in which
you reside, however, may have its own laws concerning
who may conduct adoption home studies in that country.
You may want to verify whether a person licensed to
conduct home studies in a State in the United States is
permitted, under the law of the country in which you
reside, to conduct home studies in that country.
The home study must provide an assessment of the
capabilities of the prospective adoptive parent(s) to
provide proper parental care to an adopted orphan in light
of the requirements stated in 8 CFR 204.3(e). The home
study must include a discussion of the following elements:
1. Personal interview(s) and home visit(s);
2. Assessment of the capabilities of the prospective adoptive
parents to properly parent the orphan, including:
A. Assessment of the physical, mental, and emotional
capabilities of the prospective adoptive parents to
properly parent the orphan;

C. History of abuse or violence;

E. Criminal history;
3. Living accommodations;
4. Handicapped or special needs orphan;
5. Summary of the counseling given and plans for post
placement counseling;
6. Specific approval of the prospective adoptive parents
for adoption;
7. Home study preparer's certification and statement of
authority to conduct home studies; and
8. Review of home study by the appropriate State agency,
if required, and by a private or public adoption agency
licensed in the United States, if you live abroad and will
adopt abroad.
NOTE: You must include all information concerning any
criminal history, even if an arrest, indictment, other
criminal charge or conviction has been expunged, sealed,
pardoned, or ameliorated in any other way. Having
committed any crime of moral turpitude or a drug-related
offense does not necessarily mean that the prospective
adoptive parent(s) will be found not qualified to adopt an
orphan. However, failure to disclose such information may
result in denial of this application and/or any subsequent
petition for an orphan.

Translations
Any document containing a foreign language submitted to
USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language
translation which the translator has certified as complete and
accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is
competent to translate from the foreign language into
English.

Copies
Unless specifically required that an original document be filed
with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy
may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not
required will remain a part of the record, even if the
submission was not required.
Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 3

Where To File?
A prospective adoptive parent residing in the United States
must file the I-600A at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility.
The I-600A will then be routed to, and adjudicated at, the field
office having jurisdiction over your place of residence.

Filing Other Form I-600A Requests
If you are requesting the one-time, no fee extension of the
Form I-600A approval; the one-time, no-fee re-fingerprinting;
or a change in the I-600A approval due to a significant change
in your household, you must make these requests as instructed
upon initial filing. For more information, visit USCIS' Web
site: www.uscis.gov.

Form I-600A must be mailed to one of the USCIS Dallas
Lockbox facility addresses listed below.
For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries, use:
USCIS
P.O. Box 660088
Dallas, TX 75266
For private couriers (non-USPS), use:
USCIS
ATTN: Adoption
2501 S. State Highway 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
E-Notification: If you are filing your Form I-600 A at the
USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility, you may elect to receive an
email and/or text message notifying you that your application
has been accepted. You must complete Form G-1145, ENotification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to
the first page of your application. To download a copy of
Form G-1145, including the instructions, click on the link
www.uscis.gov “Forms.”

Prospective Adoptive Parents Who Live
Overseas and Wish to File Form I-600A
A prospective adoptive parent residing outside the United
States must consult the nearest American consulate for the
overseas or stateside USCIS office designated to act on the
application.

Filing a Second Form I-600A
for Grandfathered Cases
A second Form I-600A fro grandfathered cases (i.e. an I-600A
or I-600 was filed prior to April 1, 2008) must be filed at the
USCIS Field Office having jurisdiction over the place of
residence of the perspective adoptive parent(s), not with the
Dallas Lockbox Facility. For more information, visit USCIS'
Web site: www.uscis.gov.

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for Form I-600A is $670.
An additional Biometric Fee of $80 for fingerprinting every
adult person living in the household in the United States where
the child will reside.
For example, if an application is filed by a married couple
residing in the United States with one additional adult member
in their household, the total fees that must be submitted would
be $910 ($670 for the petition and $240 for the biometric
services fees for fingerprinting the three adults).
USCIS will allow for a one time re-fingerprinting at no-charge
to the prospective adoptive parents and household members,
who are at least 18 years of age upon expiration of the
fingerprint validity period of 15 months. Also, if the
prospective adoptive parents have not yet filed Form I-600 and
make a written request to extend the approval period of a
Form I-600A, it is not necessary for them to pay the
biometrics fee again to be fingerprinted in connection with the
extension request.

Biometric Services
As part of the USCIS biometric services requirement, the
following persons must be fingerprinted in connection with
this application:
1. The married prospective adoptive parent and spouse, if
applicable; and
2. Each additional adult member 18 years of age of the
prospective adoptive parent's household. NOTE: Submit a
copy of the birth certificate of each qualifying household
member who is 18 years of age.
If necessary, USCIS may also take each person's photograph
and signature as part of the biometric services.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 4

Petitioners Residing in the United States
After filing this petition, USCIS will notify each person in
writing of the time and location where he or she must go to be
fingerprinted. Failure to appear to be fingerprinted or for other
biometric services may result in denial of this application.

You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of
insufficient funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two
times.

Petitioners Residing Abroad
Completed fingerprint cards (Forms FD-258) must be
submitted with this application. Do not bend, fold, or crease
the completed fingerprint cards. The fingerprint cards must be
prepared by a U.S. Embassy or consulate, USCIS office, or
U.S. military installation.
NOTE: If the prospective adoptive parent(s) and any other
adult members of the household are residing abroad at the
time of filing, they are exempt from paying the biometric
services fee for fingerprinting. However, they may have to
pay fingerprinting fees charged by the U.S. Department of
State or military installation.
You may submit one check or money order for both the
application and biometric fees.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-600A and the biometric service
fee:
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and

How to Check If the Fees Are Correct
The form and biometric fees on this form are current as of the
edition date appearing in the lower right corner of this page.
However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can
verify if the fees are correct by following one of the steps
below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select "Immigration
Forms," and check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form package, if
you called us to request the form; or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.
NOTE: If your Form I-600A requires payment of a biometric
service fee for USCIS to take your fingerprints, photograph, or
signature, you can use the same procedure to obtain the correct
biometric fee.

Address Changes
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam, make it payable to Treasurer,
Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, make it payable
to Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."

If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
online at www.uscis.gov. Click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts, or you may complete and
mail Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134

Notice to Those Making Payment by Check
If you send us a check, it will be converted into an electronic
funds transfer (EFT). This means we will copy your check
and use the account information on it to electronically debit
your account for the amount of the check. The debit from
your account will usually take 24 hours and will be shown on
your regular account statement.

For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail
to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 5

Processing Information
What Should You Do After Locating or Identifying a
Child or Children?
Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate
Relative, is filed when a child has been located and/or
identified for the prospective adoptive parent(s). A new fee is
not required if Form I-600 is filed within 18 months from the
approval date of Form I-600A.
If approved in the home study for more than one orphan, the
prospective adoptive parent(s) may file a petition for each of
the additional children to the maximum number approved. If
the orphans are siblings, no additional filing fee is required.
However, if the orphans are not siblings, an additional filing
fee is required for each orphan beyond the first orphan.
A fee of $670 must be submitted for filing this petition.
However, a fee is not required for this petition if you filed an
advance processing application (Form I-600A) within the
previous 18 months, and it was approved or is still pending.
NOTE: Approval of an advance processing application does
not guarantee that the orphan petition(s) will be approved.
Form I-600 must be accompanied by all the evidence required
by the instructions of that form, except where provided
previously with Form I-600A.
Generally, Form I-600 should be submitted at the USCIS
office where Form I-600A was filed. Prospective adoptive
parent(s) going abroad to adopt or locate a child may file Form
I-600 with either the USCIS office or U.S. Embassy or
consulate having jurisdiction over the place where the child is
residing or will be located, unless the case is being retained at
the USCIS office stateside.

Certification
The "Certification of Prospective Adoptive Parent" block of
Form I-600A must be executed by the prospective adoptive
parent. The spouse, if applicable, must execute the
"Certification of Married Prospective Adoptive Parent
Spouse" block on Page 2 of the form. Failure to do so will
result in the rejection of Form I-600A.
Any Form I-600A that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee will be rejected with a notice that Form I-600A
is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and resubmit
Form I-600A. An application or petition is not considered
properly filed until accepted by USCIS.

Initial Processing
Once Form I-600A has been accepted, it will be checked for
completeness, including submission of the required initial
evidence. If you do not completely fill out the form or file it
without required initial evidence, you will not establish a basis
for eligibility, and we may deny your Form I-600A.

Requests for More Information or Interview
We may request more information or evidence, or we may
request that you appear at a USCIS office for an interview.
We may also request that you submit the originals of any
copy. We will return these originals when they are no longer
required.

Decision
The decision on Form I-600A involves a determination of
whether you have established eligibility for the requested
benefit. You will be notified of the decision in writing.

Extension of the Form I-600A Approval Period
If USCIS has approved your Form I-600A, and you have not
yet filed Form I-600 based on that approval, you may make
one request, without fee, to have USCIS extend the approval
period for your Form I-600A. You must submit a written
request to the USCIS office that adjudicated the initial Form
I-600A. The request must be received no earlier than 90 days
prior to the expiration of the Form I-600A approval, but before
the Form I-600A approval notice expires. For instance, if
your Form I-600A approval notice is valid until December 31,
you may not file the request before October 3, but must file it
no later than December 31.
The written request must explicitly request a one-time, nocharge extension to the current Form I-600A approval. You
must submit an amended/updated home study and any other
supporting documentation of any changes in the household.
The home study amendment or update must address each issue
under 8 CFR 204.3(e) and indicate whether anything has
changed on any item. The home study must also address any
changes to Form I-600A answers and must say whether
approval is still recommended.

Requesting a Change of Country
If you had USCIS send the approval notice for your Form
I-600A to the Department of State office in a particular
country, but now wish to adopt a child from a different
country, you may make one request, without fee, to have a

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 6

new approval notice sent to the U.S. Department of State
office in the new country. You must submit a written request
to the USCIS office that adjudicated the initial Form I-600A.
You should also submit an updated or amended home study
that addresses the change in country and whether the home
study preparer recommends approval of the change and that
also addresses any other changes since your Form I-600A was
approved.
If you have received one free change of country, then you
must submit a properly completed Form I-824, Application for
Action on Approved Petitioner or Application, with the fee
specified in 8 CFR 103.7(b), to obtain any additional change
of country.

USCIS Forms and Information
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at 1-800870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and information on
immigration laws, regulations, and procedures by telephoning
our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or
visiting our Internet website at www.uscis.gov.
As an alternative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our Internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our Web site. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler
and follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Privacy Act Notice
We ask for the information on this form and associated
evidence to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-600A.

Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 30 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions and
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC
20529-2210. OMB No. 1615-0028. Do not mail your
application to this address.

Penalties
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with Form I-600A, we will
deny Form I-600A and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 7